I love the machines customers bring in for service. This example is a standard Underwood typewriter from 1956. It came in for a complete overhaul; new platen, rollers, you name it, the machine got it. These are common machines and are excellent typewriters. What is special about this baby is the 15 CPI typeface, Double Gothic. I love the decals from the original owner; Pacific Northwest Bell. Types like a demon. … [Read more...]

I applaud all of you who venture into cleaning and repairing your machines. I always hope working on typewriters sparks greater interest. When a customer comes to me confessing failure at working on their typewriter and brings it to me for service I empathize. Heck I fail all the time. You, my loyal customer, know I cannot repair everything. So when this dismantled Royal Companion (Quiet DeLuxe) came to the shop I was glad they did not … [Read more...]

Remember that IBM Selectric I painted orange? This beauty is Apple Red! Feast your eyes on this clean bright typewriter. I'm learning the techniques to create a good finish. The IBM typewriters are a cast alloy and there is a reason IBM painted them with a textured finish. The castings are not close to having a smooth baseline. That textured paint hides many imperfections. Each machine I paint is a hoot. … [Read more...]

I don't get in the shop too many two tone Remington machines. I thought you might like a gander at one. It is a customer machine in for a well needed cleaning and a really stuck key. It turns out the key lever was bent and hanging up in the front comb. A bit of patient tweaking and it was freed. Nicely preserved decals.   … [Read more...]

This customer machine has been in their family a long, long time and ready for a renewal. I like the base model typewriters and this Royal Signet came into the shop needing a new paper roller, new feet, the ribbon vibrator needed repair and the ribbon was not feeding. This model features only upper case letters, possibly called Monoface, no back space, left margin only, no bell, no shift, no tabs, manual ribbon reverse; a very simple … [Read more...]

Like other repair shops I too re-paint typewriters. One of my customers found a nice IBM Personal Typewriter Selectric at their local typewriter repair shop in California. Wanting a fresh looking machine they proposed I paint the shell. I'm no professional painter, yet I like to think I do a decent job with a rattle can spray job. I sent paint samples and one was selected. They shipped the shell and I got to work. Off come … [Read more...]

This Continental Wanderer typewriter from the year 1930 is a customer's machine in for a new draw cord, a good cleaning and tune up. Once I got the mildew off the platen and rollers, and with everything cleaned and re-oiled the machine is a dream. As I was testing this Continental it became evident why people like them. It typed great! Darn, now I want one. … [Read more...]

These two Erika 5 portables were brought to the shop, and one of them for a bit of work. The 1935 model 5 is the pretty one, yet she has the most going on. Paper rollers were hard and cracked, needing replacement. The platen had stuck to the rollers so the platen needed a bit of reconditioning. Afterwards it was apparent the platen should be replaced. It is covered with micro cracks and is hard as a rockabilly song. Oddly, the … [Read more...]

This Hermes Rocket from the year 1955 was a donation needing a bit of repair; carriage, platen, paper rollers, feet, the usual. My first thought was "parts machine". Yet I have a fondness for the older Rockets and this little guy spoke to me. He wanted a second chance. After I was done getting the machine into tiptop shape I began to realize the paint on the typewriter was suffering from a lot of wear. I did not want this machine to just … [Read more...]